A Filipino proverb says: “Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga,” which basically means: “If you persevere, you will reap the fruits of your labor.” In other words, hard work and perseverance will pay off in the long run. Most people who do not succeed is because they do not do those two things, while the ones who have succeeded will tell you that it took both hard word and perseverance.

A Pakistani proverb says: “Look at a man’ deeds, not whether he is tall or short.”

In other words, do not look at the person physically, look at what he or she is accomplishing. Looks can be very deceiving. There is a saying that says: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” In the Bible, Proverb 20:11 says: “Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right.”Matthew 7:16 states: “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?”Then Luke 6:43-44 puts it this way: “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.”

There is an Icelandic proverb that says: “Allir vilja herrann vera, en enginn sekkinn vera,” which means, “Everyone want to be lord, but no one wants to carry the bag.” The English equivalent is: “Too many chiefs and not enough Indians.” In other words, everyone wants to be the boss, but nobody wants to do the work.

Many people want things to change, but they fail to realize that change has to start with them. In other words, they have to change themselves first, and then other things will change. If they maintain the same attitude, and the same way of proceeding with their lives, nothing will ever change. Many times we cannot change the situation, but we can change ourselves, and that can make a tremendous difference.

A proverb from the country of India says: “The eyes do not see what the mind does not want to see.”

Many people make wrong decisions, and especially about people, because they only see what they want to see. Their mind is already made up of what they want to see, and for that exact reason that is what they see. Many people get married and because they are blindly in love they overlook the faults that the other person has. However later on when the love blindness begins to wear off they notice the faults and a divorce is imminent in many cases. Do not fall into that trap!

The people in India have a proverb that says: “If you live on the river, befriend the crocodile.”

In other words, know the people around you, and learn how to get along with them. Know how to protect and take care of yourself. Being wise and practical in a given situation can actually save your life.

LEARNING
There is a proverb in India that says: “Learning is a treasure no thing can touch.”
What it means is that once one has learning no one can take it away. Learning and wisdom are two treasures that every human being should pursue. The wisest thing a person can do is to learn the word of God and to put it into practice by living it. Are you doing that?

FOLLOW THE RIVER
There is a proverb in India that says: “Follow the river, and you will get to the sea.”
It makes a lot of sense. Let me give you some more examples: Follow good advice, and it will go well for you. Take care of yourself physically, emotionally and psychologically and you will live longer. Follow Jesus and His teaching and you will get to heaven and will spend eternity with God.
SIGUE EL RÍO
Un proverbio de la India dice: “Sigue el río, y llegarás al mar.”
Hace mucho sentido. Permíteme darte unos ejemplos: Sigue buenos consejos, y te irá bien. Cuídate física, mental, sicológica y espiritualmente, y vivirás una vida más larga. Si sigues a Jesucristo y sus enseñanzas llegarás al cielo, y pasarás la eternidad con